$2.5 million boost to restore Canterbury Council Buildings

$2.5 million funding boost to restore Canterbury Provincial
Council Buildings

The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust
and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage today announced
they will jointly provide funding of $2.5 million for the
Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, to be used towards
restoration and reconstruction of its Armagh and Durham
street stone towers. When completed, this work is intended
to enable the adjacent wooden buildings to re-open for
public use as soon as possible.

Widely acknowledged as New
Zealand’s most outstanding example of High Victorian
Gothic Revival architecture, the buildings were severely
damaged in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The Stone
Chamber (1865) collapsed immediately, compounded by
subsequent seismic activity. The Armagh Street stone tower
collapsed and the Durham Street stone tower was damaged to
the point where deconstruction was necessary.

Dr Rod Carr,
Trustee of Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust says,
“Given the unique heritage value of these buildings and
their importance as a venue for cultural and other
activities, the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust is very
pleased to help get this project underway”.

At this
point the Armagh and Durham Street stone towers have been
deconstructed down to a height of 2-4m above ground level.
The $2.5 million is to be put to their restoration and
reconstruction, opening up the principal public access way
to the buildings, through the Armagh Street tower. Funding
of $1.25 million is being provided by the Ministry for
Culture and Heritage to match the $1.25 million granted by
the Appeal Trust. The restoration of the two towers supports
a landmark recovery project, significant to the Christchurch
City Council’s contribution towards rebuilding of the
city.

"This is great news for Christchurch and will be
well-received locally and internationally. I am excited we
have secured this funding so we can preserve some of
Christchurch's unique story and make significant parts of
this iconic building available for public use once more. So
much has already been lost here in Christchurch it's great
to celebrate this good news and take this positive step
forward in restoring the Canterbury Provincial Building,"
says Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

Dr Anna Crighton,
Chair of Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund says,
“The Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings are the last
remaining purpose-built provincial parliament buildings in
New Zealand. The ornate and detailed stone council chamber
has a particularly significant heritage value and these were
the first buildings listed as a Category 1 Historic Building
by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.”

Assessments
by engineers confirmed that the timber portions of the
buildings are repairable, however the stone towers and
chamber will require major works. Christchurch City Council
has been deconstructing, stabilising and making safe all the
buildings, ensuring they are weather proof. The remains of
the Stone Chamber have been stabilised but a decision on
whether to rebuild this part of the complex has yet to be
made.

The total cost of restoration and reconstruction of
the Provincial building complex is yet to be determined, but
it is estimated to exceed the total insurance pay-out of
approximately $30 million. Work is expected to commence this
year.

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